60 years Ago: Beatles Play Concerts in Kent and Record for BBC
On Monday, July 8, 1963, the Beatles began a week-long series of concerts at the Winter Gardens in Margate, Kent. Each night, from Monday through Saturday, the group played two shows for separate audiences. Their set opened with the yet-to-be-recorded Roll Over Beethoven with George on lead vocals. The group also played both sides of their latest single, From Me To You and Thank You Girl, their previous hit single, Please Please Me, and six songs from their debut album, including the closer Twist And Shout. Except for the opening song, the Beatles did a heavy job of plugging their latest records.
While two shows a night would be enough for most groups, the Beatles traveled to London on Wednesday, July10, to record two separate shows of their BBC radio program Pop Go The Beatles. This session took place at Studio Two of Aeolian Hall.
For the first show, set for broadcast on July 23, the group performed Sweet Little Sixteen, A Taste Of Honey, Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees), Love Me Do, Lonesome Tears In My Eyes and So How Come (No One Loves Me). With the exception of Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen, the non-EMI songs were country flavored.
The second show, set for broadcast on July 30, consisted of: Memphis, Tennessee; Do You Want To Know A Secret; Till There Was You; Matchbox; Please Mister Postman and The Hippy Hippy Shake.
After six nights of double shows, the Beatles ended the weekend the same way they ended the previous weekend, with a Sunday concert at ABC Theatre in Blackpool, Lancashire.
Today’s trivia questions cover the July 23 and 30 editions of Pop Go The Beatles.
- Which artists originally recorded Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees), Lonesome Tears In My Eyes and So How Come (No One Loves Me)?
- Which artists originally recorded Memphis, Tennessee, Please Mister Postman and The Hippy Hippy Shake?
- Of the songs recorded for the July 30, 1963, edition of Pop Go The Beatles, which one would the group record eight days later at Abbey Road?
- Of the songs recorded for the July 23 and 30, 1963, editions of Pop Go The Beatles, which one would Paul play to open his set at the June 1, 2008, concert at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool?
- Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees)was originally recorded by Eddie Fontaine. Lonesome Tears In My Eyes was first recorded by Johnny Burnette and his Rock ’N’ Roll Trio. So How Come (No One Loves Me) was recorded by the Everly Brothers. Of these three country-flavored songs, the Everly Brothers song demonstrates where the Beatles developed their harmonies from.
- Memphis, Tennessee was written and recorded by Chuck Berry. Please Mister Postman was first recorded by the Marvelettes. The Hippy Hippy Shake was written and recorded by Chan Romero.
- The Beatles recorded Till There Was You at their first session for their second album on July 18, 1963.
- Paul surprised the audience at the June 1, 2008, concert at Anfield Stadium by opening his set with The Hippy Hippy Shake.
[stextbox id=”info”]NO-PRIZE TIME! The Hippy Hippy Shake was originally recorded by Chan Romero (not Chad). Thanks to Jeffrey Morris for being the first person to spot this error and earn himself a No Prize! (Maybe I had Chad & Jeremy on my mind since the duo will be performing at the Fest for Beatles Fans this August!)[/stextbox]